Ungkapan yang Pakai Anggota Badan

By Speak Indo, original reading practice from the Speak Indo course.

Expressions That Use Body Parts. A teacher explains idioms built from body words and when to use them.

The dialogue, line by line

1. Banyak ungkapan Indonesia pakai anggota badan.
   Many Indonesian expressions use parts of the body.
2. Contohnya apa, Bu?
   What is an example?
3. Panjang tangan, artinya suka mencuri.
   Long hand, meaning someone who likes to steal.
4. Jadi kalau ada pencuri, orang bilang begitu?
   So if there is a thief, people say that?
5. Iya, tapi halus, tidak langsung.
   Yes, but gently, not directly.
6. Ada lagi?
   Any others?
7. Muka tembok, artinya tidak tahu malu.
   Wall face, meaning shameless.
8. Serem juga artinya.
   That is a harsh meaning.
9. Lalu naik darah, artinya marah sekali.
   Then blood rising, meaning very angry.
10. Itu seperti kemarahan yang tiba-tiba?
    Like a sudden anger?
11. Betul. Ada juga makan hati.
    Correct. There is also eating heart.
12. Artinya apa?
    What does that mean?
13. Menderita dalam diam karena orang lain.
    Suffering in silence because of someone else.
14. Bahasa ini kaya sekali, ya.
    This language is really rich.
15. Iya. Kalau bingung, tanya saja, jangan malu.
    It is. If you are confused, just ask, do not be shy.

Vocabulary in this dialogue

• banyak, many
• apa, what
• panjang tangan, long hand (thief)
• suka, to like
• mencuri, to steal
• jadi, so
• kalau, if / when (casual)
• ada, there is
• pencuri, thief
• orang, person
• tapi, but
• tidak, no